title: Estimation of lithium dose requirement by lithium clearance, serum lithium and saliva lithium following a loading dose of lithium carbonate.
abstract: Renal lithium clearance and the serum lithium levels following a single oral loading dose of lithium were used as measures to predict lithium dose requirement during long-term maintenance at 3 different psychiatric centers in North America. Saliva lithium values were also investigated at one of the centers. The correlation between lithium clearance and the 17-hour serum lithium level, and subsequent dosage was high; the mean correlation co-efficient from the 3 centers being 0.84 for renal lithium clearance and 0.75 for both the 17-hour and 10-hour serum lithium levels. These tests can therefore be recommended as a guide to estimate lithium dose requirement in patients starting lithium maintenance treatment although absolute reliance should not be placed on the prediction formulae obtained. The correlation between saliva lithium and eventual dosage was poor and of little predictive value.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003201:Computers; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium